Container openable and closable in different ways

ABSTRACT

A container includes a first and a second hollow case forming two halves of the container and defining at one side with an opening each, and a plurality of connecting strips having different designs, words, and/or numerals provided on both sides thereof. At least two of the connecting strips are extended along an outer wall surface of the first case with two ends of the strips separately connected to front and rear edges of the openings of the first and second cases, respectively, and at least a third one of the connecting strips is extended along an outer wall surface of the second case with two ends of the strip separately connected to front and rear edges of the openings of the second and first cases, respectively, so that the two cases could be opened and closed from different directions, and the connecting strips could be turned inside out.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container openable and closable indifferent ways, and more particularly to a container openable andclosable in different ways and therefore very suitable for use asstationery case, name card case, spectacles case, cosmetic case, giftbox, purse, or other types of packaging boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional container typically includes a U-sectioned receiving boxand an inverted U-sectioned cover. The cover may be directly put on anopen top of the box to vertically open or close the box, or pivotallyconnected to an upper rear edge of the box so as to be turned open fromor closed on to the box. In either type, the container is widelyemployed to hold and store different things and items, and may appear inthe form of packaging box, gift box, stationery case, spectacles case,cosmetic case, purse, etc.

Since the conventional container has box and cover that could beassembled only in the above-described manners, it is not easy to changethe container's appearance once its outer surfaces are printed, sprayed,or labeled with any decorating or advertising designs, words, ornumerals. Therefore, the conventional container has monotonousappearance and fails to frequently attract consumers. Moreover, theconventional container having a pivotally connected cover usually has anopen side suitable for a right-hander, and is therefore not soconvenient for use by a left-hander.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a container that couldbe opened or closed in different ways and is therefore more convenientfor use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a containeropenable and closable indifferent ways, which can be more convenientlyoperated to open or close, and allows changes in decorations andadvertisements provided on its outer surfaces to create different visualeffects.

To achieve the above and other objects, the container openable andclosable in different ways according to the present invention includes afirst and a second case, and a plurality of connecting strips havingdifferent designs, words, and/or numerals provided on both sidesthereof. The first and second cases are in the form of open-side hollowcases forming two halves of the container and defining at an open sidewith an opening each. At least two of the connecting strips areconnected at an end to a front edge of the opening of the first case,and then extended along an outer wall surface of the first case toconnect the other opposite end to a rear edge of the opening of thesecond case, and at least a third one of the connecting strips isconnected at an end to a front edge of the opening of the second case,and then extended along an outer wall surface of the second case toconnect the other opposite end to a rear edge of the opening of thefirst case, so that the connecting strips function like movableconnecting elements between the first and second cases, allowing the twocases to be opened and closed from different directions. And, wheneverthe first and the second case are turned to open or close from adifferent direction, the connecting strips are also turned inside out toshow different designs thereof and give the container a differentappearance.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attractivestructure is provided at each of the front and rear edges of theopenings of the first and second cases to prevent the first and secondcases in a closed state from being easily opened. In an embodiment ofthe present invention, the attractive structure includes a magnetprovided at each of the front and rear edges of the openings of thefirst and second cases. In another embodiment of the present invention,the attractive structure includes magnets provided at the front and rearedges of the opening of the first case and iron plates provided at thefront and rear edges of the opening of the second cases. In a furtherembodiment of the present invention, the attractive structure includesmagnets provided at the front and rear edges of the opening of the firstor the second case, while the other case is made of a steel material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container openable andclosable in different ways according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing two cases of the container ofFIG. 2 are to be opened from front edges thereof;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are fragmentary and enlarged views of

FIG. 3 showing front and rear edges of the two cases of the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the two cases of the containerof FIG. 2 have been opened from the front edges thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing the two cases of thecontainer of FIG. 2 are further turned open in the same direction;

FIGS. 8 and 10 are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 9,respectively;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the two cases of the containerof FIG. 2 have been turned one full circle and could be opened from therear edges thereof; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are exploded and assembledperspective views, respectively, of a container openable and closable indifferent ways according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. For the purpose of concision, the present invention is alsobriefly referred to as “the container” throughout the specification. Asshown, the container of the present invention mainly includes a firstcase 1, a second case 2, and a plurality of connecting strips 3, 3′.

The first case 1 and the second case 2 are open-side hollow casesforming two halves of the container of the present invention anddefining at an open side with an opening 11, 21 each. Each of theopenings 11, 21 has a front edge 111, 211 and a rear edge 112, 212, suchthat the first and the second case 1, 2 could be closed to each other atthe openings 11, 21 to form a complete container. The first and thesecond case 1, 2 may be of any cross-sectional shape, such assemicircular, rectangular, polygonal, or any other regular or irregulargeometrical shapes. Moreover, the first and the second case 1, 2 may beprovided on respective outer wall surfaces 12, 22 with differentdesigns, words, and/or numerals.

The connecting strips 3, 3′ are narrow long strips with differentdesigns, words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof provided on twosides thereof, and can therefore show different visual effects.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, at least two connecting strips3 and at least one connecting strip 3′ are employed. Each of theconnecting strips 3 is connected at an end to the front edge 111 of theopening 11 of the first case 1, and then extended along the outer wallsurface 12 of the first case 1 to connect the other opposite end to therear edge 212 of the opening 21 of the second case 2. The connectingstrip 3′ is connected at an end to the front edge 211 of the opening 21of the second case 2, and then extended along the outer wall surface 22of the second case 2 to connect the other opposite end to the rear edge112 of the opening 11 of the first case 1. In this manner, theconnecting strips 3 and 3′ function like movable connecting elementsbetween the first and the second case 1, 2 to allow the two cases 1, 2to turn open or close from different directions.

Please refer to FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B. Attractive structures 13, 23 arerespectively provided in front and rear edges 111, 211 and 112, 212 ofthe openings 11, 21 of the first and second cases 1, 2, so that thefirst and second cases 1, 2 in a fitly closed state mutually attracteach other without the risk of being arbitrarily opened. In anembodiment of the present invention, the attractive structures 13, 23include magnets 131, 231 respectively provided at free ends of the frontedges 111, 211 and the rear edges 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 of thefirst and the second case 1, 2. The magnets 131 and 231 respectivelyprovided at front and rear edges of each opening 11, 21 have differentpolarities, and the magnets 131, 231 respectively provided at the frontedges 111, 211 and the rear edges 112, 212 of the two openings 11, 21have different polarities, too, so that the first and the second case 1,2 magnetically attract each other to firmly close together.Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, theattractive structures 13, 23 respectively include at least one magnetprovided on the first case 1 at the same location as that in theabove-mentioned embodiment, and an iron plate (not shown) provided onthe second case 2 at a location corresponding to the magnet on the firstcase 1, so that the first and the second case 1, 2 magnetically attracteach other to firmly close together. In a further embodiment of thepresent invention, the attractive structures 13, 23 respectively includeat least one magnet provided on the first case 1 at the same location asthat in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the second case 2 is madeof a steel material, so that the first and the second case 1, 2magnetically attract each other to firmly close together.

The container of the present invention may appear in many differentforms for different usages, such as a stationery case, a name card case,a spectacles case, a cosmetic case, a gift box, a purse, or other typesof packaging boxes. When the first and second cases 1, 2 of thecontainer of the present invention are closed to each other as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting strips 3, 3′ are fitly extended along andattached to the outer wall surfaces 12, 22 of the two cases 1, 2 to showthe designs, words, and/or numerals provided on one side of theconnecting strips 3, 3′. And, when a user wants to put something in thecontainer, the first and the second case 1, 2 could be freely openedfrom the front edges 111, 211, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

When it is desired to change a direction from which the container isopened or to change an appearance of the container, the user may firstopen the first and the second case 1, 2 in the above-described manner,and then keeps turning the cases 1, 2 relative to each other, as shownin FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. When the two cases 1, 2 have been turned onefull circle relative to each other to close together again, as shownFIGS. 11 and 12, the rear edges 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 aremoved into a position for opening the first and the second case 1, 2conveniently. Meanwhile, the connecting strips 3, 3′ extended along andattached to outer wall surfaces 12, 22 of the first and second cases 1,2 are also turned inside out to show the designs, words, and/or numeralsprovided on the other side thereof and create a different appearance andvisual effect for the container of the present invention.

With the above arrangements, the container of the present inventionincludes two cases 1, 2 that could be turned relative to each other tochange the position from where the container is opened. In other words,the container of the present invention could be opened from front orrear edges 111, 211 or 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 of the two cases1, 2 to adapt to right-hander and left-hander at the same time, and istherefore more convenient for use. Moreover, since it is possible toshow designs, words, and/or numerals on another side of the connectingstrips 3, 3′ when the two cases 1, 2 are turned to change the opendirection of the container, the container of the present invention isparticularly suitable for use as a packaging container to provideenhanced advertising effects.

1. A container openable and closable in different ways, comprising: afirst case and a second case in the form of open-side hollow casesforming two halves of said container and defining at an open side withan opening each, and each of said opening having a front and a rearedge; and a plurality of connecting strips; at least two of saidconnecting strips being connected at an end to said front edge of saidopening of said first case, and then extended along an outer wallsurface of said first case to connect the other opposite end to saidrear edge of said opening of said second case; and at least one of saidconnecting strips being connected at an end to said front edge of saidopening of said second case, and then extended along an outer wallsurface of said second case to connect the other opposite end to saidrear edge of said opening of said first case; whereby said connectingstrips function like movable connecting elements between said first andsaid second case for said first and second cases to freely turn relativeto each other, and allow said first and second case to be opened fromdifferent directions.
 2. The container openable and closable indifferent ways as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first case and saidsecond case are provided on said outer wall surfaces with designs,words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof.
 3. The containeropenable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid connecting strips are provided on two sides with different designs,words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof.
 4. The containeropenable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid front edges and said rear edges of said openings of said first andsecond cases are provided with an attractive structure each for saidfirst and said second case in a closed state to attract each otherwithout the risk of being arbitrarily opened.
 5. The container openableand closable in different ways as claimed in claim 4, wherein each ofsaid attractive structures includes at least one magnet provided at afree end of each of said front and rear edges of said openings of saidfirst and second cases.